Please note:

Admission to the College of Health and Human Services or University does not guarantee admission to the program. Acceptance into the HIM programs is based on a selective admission process and is based on space available. Applicants are considered on a competitive basis. There are no restrictions regarding age, sex, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.

Health Information Management Associate Degree

The health information technician is the professional responsible for maintaining
components of health information systems consistent with the medical, administrative,
ethical, legal, accreditation, and regulatory requirement of the health care delivery
system. In all types of facilities, and in various locations within a facility, the
health information technician possesses the technical knowledge and skills necessary
to process, maintain, compile, and report health information data for reimbursement,
facility planning, marketing, risk management, utilization management, quality management
and research; abstract and code clinical data using appropriate classification systems;
and analyze health records according to standards. The health information technician
may be responsible for functional supervision of the various components of the health
information system.

Accreditation

The Associate Degree Health Information Management Program at Western Kentucky University
is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information
Management Education (www.cahiim.org)

Graduate Outcomes Data: Graduate and Employer HIM Program Satisfaction Rates-100%
(Based on results of CAHIIM mandated surveys conducted in 2012.)*

*Compliance with 2012 CAHIIM Standard for Accreditation VI.30

Professional Credentials

Graduates of the associate degree program are eligible to take the American Health
Information Association examination to become a Registered Health Information Technician
(RHIT). Graduates are also eligible to take the following AHIMA coding examinations:
Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), and Certified
Coding Specialist- Physician-based (CCS-P). Graduates may also take the following
examinations offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders: Certified Professional
Coder (CPC), Certified Professional Coder- Outpatient Hospital (CPC-H), and Certified
Professional Coder- Payer (CPC-P).

Career Opportunities

The majority of Registered Health Information Technicians (RHITs) are employed in
health information departments in a variety of settings. With expanding uses of healthcare
information, RHITs are finding opportunities for employment in hospitals, industrial
clinics, state and federal health agencies, private industry, long term and mental
health care facilities. Visit AHIMA's Career Map for additional information on job titles, descriptions, salaries, and career pathways.

Health Information Management Baccalaureate Degree

Health information management (HIM) is a diverse yet evolving field that incorporates
medicine, management, finance, information technology, and law into one dynamic career
path. The HIM baccalaureate degree program prepares the graduate HIM professional
with the skills and competencies in health data management, information policy, administering
computer information systems and administrative and clinical work flow. Students
will focus on the management of information, people and operational units, participation
in administrative committees, preparation of budgets and administration of computerized
health information systems.

Accreditation

The Baccalaureate Degree Health Information Management Program at Western Kentucky
University is in Candidacy Status, pending accreditation review by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics
and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Career Opportunities

Job opportunitiesfor baccalaureate degree graduatesexist in multiple settings throughout
the healthcare industry. These organizations include hospitals, multispecialty clinics
and physician practices, long-term care, mental health, and other ambulatory care
settings. The profession has seen significant expansion in nonpatient care settings,
with careers in managed care and insurance companies, software vendors, consulting
services, government agencies, education, and pharmaceutical companies. Visit AHIMA's Career Map for additional information on job titles, descriptions, salaries, and career pathways.

Transfer Students

Since acceptance of transfer credit for a particular major is subject to approval
by the appropriate academic department, the HIM program director is responsible for
the determination of transfer credit of HIM courses. Any HIM course considered for
transfer credit must have been completed through a CAHIIM accredited program. The
student will be required to provide a description and syllabus for each course; the
transferring institution may be contacted for additional information. Credit may
be given for each approved equivalent course as long as the University minimum residence
requirement for the baccalaureate degree is maintained.